Sunday, December 08, 2013

Raoul's rates high in NYC's Greenwich Village (12-7-13)

I was joined by my niece and nephew in NY for dinner
last night and we tried a new find for us all, yet a NY standard well
known.

RAOUL's (180 Prince St, NY) is on a quiet street in
Greenwich Village which was a welcome sight having just been in the
hectic mid-town of holiday shoppers and tourists. The place was quiet
when we arrived at 5:30pm, but heaving when we left just over 2 hours
later.

Raoul's reeks of French bistro with a bar up front,
tine ceilings and walls(!!) and comfy booths. Our server Javier was
helpful and excellent and adorable as well!

I asked about the
Steak Tartare and he said it was the best; he was near to correct, if
not spot on. It was tasty with mustard in the mix, a small raw quail egg
still in its shell (cracked open at the top to pour it out) on top and a
small tasty frisee on the side with Sherry Vinaigrette. The same
vinaigrette adorned the Mesclun Salad my nephew had. My niece had the
extremely hot but superb Soupe de Courge avec Hommard or Butternut
Squash Soup with chunks of Lobster.

My nephew tried a tart and
slightly sweet Cranberry, Blood Orange, Vodka and Black Pepper cocktail
that was yummy, but then we all enjoyed a superb Santenaay 1er Cru
"Beauregard" from Domaine Roger Belland 2010 that was drinking smoothly
and full of flavor. It went with everything!

The bread was delish as well with yummy but simple butter.

Main
courses were FUSILLI with Organic Tomato Sauce, Shitake Mushrooms and
Chevre which my nephew said was delish. Noix de St. Jacques avec Puree
de Camemberge was a divine Scallop dish with Maitake Mushrooms, Kale
Chips and Cranberry Puree.

My ONGLET GRILLE was a simple
medium rare(rare in the center) grilled hangar steak served with Carrot
Puree, Spinach & Shoots. Perfectly cooked and seasoned, it was one
of the best around in a long time.

For dessert my nephew had
the Banana Coconut Bread Pudding with Banana Crème Fraiche which was
nice and my niece and I split the yummy Sticky Fig Cake with Salted
Toffee Sauce, Figs and Vanilla Ice Cream.

We were just about
to finish up and the manager offered us free drinks if we went to the
bar; they needed the table really bad! What luck for us and what a
wonderful evening had by all!